Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2012

Or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to            

Commission file number 001-07731

 

 

EMERSON RADIO CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

DELAWARE   22-3285224

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

3 University Plaza, suite 405, Hackensack, NJ   07601
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

(973) 428-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     x  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every interactive data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    x  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    ¨  Yes    x  No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of common stock as of November 19, 2012: 27,129,832.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1. Financial Statements

     3   

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

     12   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     17   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     17   

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

     19   

Item 1A. Risk Factors

     19   

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     19   

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

     19   

Item 4. Removed and Reserved

     19   

Item 5. Other Information

     19   

Item 6. Exhibits

     19   

SIGNATURES

     20   

 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except earnings per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30
    Six Months Ended
September 30
 
     2012      2011     2012      2011  

Net Revenues:

          

Net product sales

   $ 32,299       $ 40,214      $ 77,175       $ 90,316   

Licensing revenue

     2,416         1,166        3,551         2,588   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     34,715         41,380        80,726         92,904   

Costs and expenses:

          

Cost of sales

     29,102         37,005        68,275         82,600   

Other operating costs and expenses

     385         302        793         689   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     1,737         2,380        3,745         4,069   

Impairment of trademark

     1,326         —          1,326         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     32,550         39,687        74,139         87,358   

Operating income

     2,165         1,693        6,587         5,546   

Other income:

          

Interest income (expense), net

     67         (1     98         30   

Realized gain on sale of marketable security

     —           —          —           828   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     2,232         1,692        6,685         6,404   

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     285         (71     898         1,304   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 1,947       $ 1,763      $ 5,787       $ 5,100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income per share:

          

Basic

   $ .07       $ .06      $ .21       $ .19   

Diluted

   $ .07       $ .06      $ .21       $ .19   

Weighted average shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     27,130         27,130        27,130         27,130   

Diluted

     27,130         27,130        27,130         27,131   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands except share data)

 

     September 30, 2012     March 31, 2012(A)  
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 27,488      $ 44,960   

Restricted cash

     118        215   

Short term investments

     25,000        —     

Accounts receivable, net

     16,311        12,134   

Other receivables

     2,277        1,193   

Due from affiliates

     1        1   

Inventory, net

     12,620        11,269   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     5,456        2,873   

Deferred tax assets

     2,349        2,304   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     91,620        74,949   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     206        260   

Trademarks, net

     219        1,545   

Deferred tax assets

     1,622        1,668   

Other assets

     331        262   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 93,998      $ 78,684   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term borrowings

     65        64   

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     18,292        9,152   

Due to affiliates

     —          11   

Accrued sales returns

     1,475        1,201   

Income taxes payable

     232        107   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     20,064        10,535   

Long-term borrowings

     51        72   

Deferred tax liabilities

     193        177   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     20,308        10,784   

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Preferred shares -$.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively; 3,677 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively; liquidation preference of $3,677,000 at September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively

     3,310        3,310   

Common shares — $.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 52,965,797 shares issued at September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively; 27,129,832 shares outstanding at September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, respectively

     529        529   

Capital in excess of par value

     98,785        98,785   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (losses)

     345        (82

Accumulated deficit

     (5,055     (10,418

Treasury stock, at cost, 25,835,965 shares

     (24,224     (24,224
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     73,690        67,900   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 93,998      $ 78,684   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(A) Reference is made to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 13, 2012.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Six Months Ended
September 30
 
     2012     2011  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 5,787      $ 5,100   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     48        167   

Deferred tax expense

     17        1,096   

Asset allowances, reserves and other

     229        (918

Gain on sale of marketable security

     —          (828

Impairment of trademark

     1,326        —     

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (4,116     (5,708

Other receivables

     (1,084     401   

Due from affiliates

     —          (9

Inventories

     (1,364     (15,117

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (2,583     (415

Other assets

     (69     28   

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     9,140        6,268   

Due to affiliates

     (11     (1

Interest and income taxes payable

     125        (79
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

     7,445        (10,015
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Short term investment

     (25,000     —     

Proceeds from sale of marketable security

     —          4,725   

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash

     97        (67

Additions to property and equipment

     (1     —     

Disposals of property and equipment

     7        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used) provided by investing activities

     (24,897     4,658   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Repayments of short-term borrowings

     1        (2,468

Net (decrease) in capital lease and other rental obligations

     (21     (33
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used by financing activities

     (20     (2,501
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (17,472     (7,858

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     44,960        39,796   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 27,488      $ 31,938   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for:

    

Interest

   $ 7      $ 13   

Income taxes

   $ 606      $ 850   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 — BACKGROUND AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Emerson Radio Corp. (“Emerson”, consolidated — the “Company”), and its subsidiaries. The Company designs, sources, imports and markets a variety of houseware and consumer electronic products, and licenses the Company’s trademarks for a variety of products domestically and internationally.

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present a fair statement of the Company’s consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2012 and the results of operations for the three and six month periods ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary in order to make the financial statements not misleading have been included. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes; actual results could materially differ from those estimates. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and accordingly do not include all of the disclosures normally made in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 (“fiscal 2012”), included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, for fiscal 2012.

The results of operations for the three and six month periods ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for any other interim periods or for the full year ended March 31, 2013 (“fiscal 2013”).

Certain reclassifications may have been made to conform the prior year’s financial statements to the current presentation.

Unless otherwise disclosed in the notes to these financial statements, the estimated fair value of the financial assets and liabilities approximates the carrying value.

Subsequent events have been evaluated through November 19, 2012.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures compensation cost for stock-based compensation arrangements based on grant date fair value. The computed fair value is expensed ratably over the requisite vesting period as required by ASC Topic 718 “Compensation — Stock Compensation”. All outstanding stock based compensation arrangements issued by the Company were fully vested as of November 30, 2009. Consequently, the Company recorded no compensation costs during either of the three or six month periods ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011.

Sales Allowance and Marketing Support Expenses

Sales allowances, marketing support programs, promotions and other volume-based incentives which are provided to retailers and distributors are accounted for on an accrual basis as a reduction to net revenues in the period in which the related sales are recognized in accordance with ASC topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, subtopic 50 “Customer Payments and Incentives” and Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletins 101 “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements,” and 104 “Revenue Recognition, corrected copy” (“SAB’s 101 and 104”).

At the time of sale, the Company reduces recognized gross revenue by allowances to cover, in addition to estimated sales returns as required by ASC topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, subtopic 15 “Products”, (i) sales incentives offered to customers that meet the criteria for accrual under ASC topic 605, subtopic 50 and (ii) under SAB’s 101 and 104, an estimated amount to recognize additional non-offered deductions it anticipates and can reasonably estimate will be taken by customers which it does not expect to recover. Accruals for the estimated amount of future non-offered deductions are required to be made as contra-revenue items because that percentage of shipped revenue fails to meet the collectability criteria within SAB 104’s and 101’s four revenue recognition criteria, all of which are required to be met in order to recognize revenue.

If additional marketing support programs, promotions and other volume-based incentives are required to promote the Company’s products subsequent to the initial sale, then additional reserves may be required and are accrued for when such support is offered.

 

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NOTE 2 — COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Comprehensive income for the three and six months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three months  ended
September 30
     Six months ended
September 30
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  

Net income

   $ 1,947       $ 1,763       $ 5,787       $ 5,100   

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     —           —           427         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 1,947       $ 1,763       $ 6,214       $ 5,100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE 3 — NET EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three months ended
September 30,
     Six months ended
September 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  

Numerator:

           

Net income

   $ 1,947       $ 1,763       $ 5,787       $ 5,100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator:

           

Denominator for basic earnings per share — weighted average shares

     27,130         27,130         27,130         27,130   

Effect of dilutive securities on denominator:

           

Options (computed using the treasury stock method)

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator for diluted earnings per share — weighted average shares and assumed conversions

     27,130         27,130         27,130         27,130   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share

   $ .07       $ .06       $ .21       $ .19   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE 4 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Outstanding capital stock at September 30, 2012 consisted of common stock and Series A preferred stock. The Series A preferred stock is non-voting, has no dividend preferences and has not been convertible since March 31, 2002; however, it retains a liquidation preference.

At September 30, 2012, the Company had approximately 50,000 options outstanding and exercisable with exercise prices ranging from $3.07 to $3.19.

NOTE 5 — INVENTORY

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. As of September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2012     March 31, 2012  
     (Unaudited)        

Finished goods

   $ 12,711      $ 11,347   

Less inventory allowances

     (91     (78
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net inventory

   $ 12,620      $ 11,269   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NOTE 6 — INCOME TAXES

The Company has no U.S. federal net operating loss carry forwards and some U.S. state net operating loss carry forwards included in net deferred tax assets that are available to offset future taxable income and can be carried forward for 20 years. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that all of the net deferred tax assets will be realized through tax planning strategies available in future periods and through future profitable operating results. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable could be reduced or eliminated if certain tax planning strategies are not successfully executed or estimates of future taxable income during the carry forward period are reduced. If management determines that the Company would not be able to realize all or part of the net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.

 

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The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to expenses that are not deductible for federal income tax purposes, income and losses incurred in foreign jurisdictions and taxed at locally applicable tax rates, and state income taxes.

The Company is subject to examination and assessment by tax authorities in numerous jurisdictions. A summary of the Company’s open tax years is as follows as of September 30, 2012:

 

Jurisdiction    Open tax years  

U.S. federal

     2008-2011   

States

     2007-2011   

Based on the outcome of tax examinations or due to the expiration of statutes of limitations, it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken in previously filed returns may be different from the liabilities that have been recorded for these unrecognized tax benefits. As a result, the Company may be subject to additional tax expense.

Taxability of March 2010 Dividend

As previously disclosed, on March 2, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) declared an extraordinary dividend of $1.10 per common share, which was paid on March 24, 2010. In connection with the Company’s determination as to the taxability of the dividend, the Board relied upon information and research provided to it by the Company’s tax advisors and, in reliance on the “stock-for-debt” exception in the Internal Revenue Code Sections 108(e)(8) and (e)(10), concluded that 4.9% of such dividend paid was taxable to the recipients.

In August 2012, the Company received a Form 886-A from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) which challenges the Company’s conclusions and determines that the Company does not qualify for the above-referenced exception. Accordingly, the IRS has concluded that 100% of the dividend paid was taxable to the recipients. The Company is defending its position and calculations and is contesting the position asserted by the IRS. The Company prepared and, on October 25, 2012, delivered its rebuttal to the IRS contesting the IRS determination.

In the event that the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct, then the shareholders who received the dividend likely will be subject to and liable for an assessment of additional taxes due. Moreover, the Company may be contingently liable for taxes due by its shareholders resulting from the dividend paid by the Company.

NOTE 7 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

From time to time, Emerson engages in business transactions with its controlling shareholder, The Grande Holdings Limited (Provisional Liquidators Appointed) (“Grande”), and one or more of Grande’s direct and indirect subsidiaries. Set forth below is a summary of such transactions.

Controlling Shareholder

Grande has, together with S&T International Distribution Limited (“S&T”), a subsidiary of Grande, Grande N.A.K.S. Ltd. and Christopher Ho (Chairman of Grande’s and Emerson’s Boards of Directors) (together with Grande, the “Reporting Persons”) filed, on July 5, 2012, a Schedule 13D/A with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) stating that, as of the filing date, the Reporting Persons (except Christopher Ho) had the shared power to vote and direct the disposition of 15,243,283 shares, or approximately 56.2%, of the outstanding common stock of Emerson, subject only to the rights granted to Deutsche Bank AG (“Deutsche Bank”) pursuant to a security agreement entered into between S&T and Deutsche Bank on January 20, 2010 in which S&T granted a security interest in an aggregate of 3,780,600 shares in Emerson common stock (the “Pledged Shares”) owned by S&T but pledged to Deutsche Bank for the purposes of securing obligations owing from Grande to Deutsche Bank (the “Secured Obligations”).

The aforementioned Schedule 13D/A also states that, as of the filing date, the Reporting Persons are aware only of the sale of 391,199 of the Pledged Shares by Deutsche Bank and that they have not yet been able to verify whether, or to what extent, Deutsche Bank has taken any other actions in respect of the Pledged Shares. The Reporting Persons also are of the view that the Secured Obligations have already been settled and, therefore, S&T reportedly is seeking clarification of the basis on which Deutsche Bank has claimed beneficial ownership of the remaining 3,380,079 shares out of the remaining 3,389,401 Pledged Shares. On February 11, 2011, Deutsche Bank filed a Schedule 13G with the SEC stating that it had sole voting and sole dispositive power over the Pledged Shares, which represent approximately 12.5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. On January 9, 2012, Deutsche Bank filed with the SEC a Form 4 Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership stating that, after sales by it of certain of the Pledged Shares, it

 

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beneficially owned 3,380,079 shares of Emerson’s common stock, and on February 10, 2012, Deutsche Bank filed with the SEC a Schedule 13G stating that it was the beneficial owner with sole voting and sole dispositive power of such shares. As a result of the foregoing, there are competing claims to 3,380,079 shares of Emerson’s common stock. Until further clarification is obtained, Emerson is unable to determine the beneficial ownership of such shares.

On May 31, 2011, upon application of a major creditor, the High Court of Hong Kong appointed Fok Hei Yu (who is also known by the anglicized name Vincent Fok), a current director, and Roderick John Sutton, both of FTI Consulting (Hong Kong) Limited (“FTI”), as Joint and Several Provisional Liquidators over Grande. Accordingly, as of May 31, 2011, the directors of Grande no longer have the ability to exercise control over Grande or the power to direct the voting and disposition of the 15,243,283 shares claimed to be owned by Grande. Instead, Mr. Fok, as a Provisional Liquidator over Grande, has such power.

Related Party Transactions

Rented Office Space in Hong Kong

The Company is billed for service charges from Brighton Marketing Limited, a subsidiary of Grande, and The Grande Properties Management Limited, a related party of Grande, in connection with the Company’s rented office space in Hong Kong. These charges totaled approximately $12,000 for the three month period ended September 30, 2012 and approximately $15,000 for the three month period ended September 30, 2011. For the six month periods ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011, these charges totaled approximately $24,000 and $54,000, respectively. Emerson owed Brighton Marketing Limited $0 at September 30, 2012 and approximately $1,000 at September 30, 2011 pertaining to theses charges.

Beginning July 3, 2012, the Company entered into a rental agreement with Lafe Strategic Services Limited (“Lafe”), which is a related party of Grande, whereby the Company is leasing out excess space within its rented office space in Hong Kong to Lafe. The rental agreement is on a month-by-month basis, cancellable by either the Company or Lafe on one month’s written notice. During the three month period ended September 30, 2012, the Company earned rental income of approximately $9,000 and owed Lafe an amount of approximately $6,000 for a security deposit paid to the Company by Lafe at the inception of the agreement.

Consulting Services Provided to Emerson by one of its Directors

During the three months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011, Emerson paid consulting fees of approximately $31,000 and $11,000, respectively, to Mr. Eduard Will, a director of Emerson, for work performed by Mr. Will related to strategy for the Kayne Litigation as more fully described in Note 9 – “Legal Proceedings – Kayne Litigation” and merger and acquisition research. In addition, during each of the three months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011, Emerson paid expense reimbursements and advances, in the aggregate, of nil to Mr. Will, related to this consulting work and his service as a director of Emerson.

During the six months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011, Emerson paid consulting fees of approximately $62,000 and $14,000, respectively, to Mr. Eduard Will, a director of Emerson, for work performed by Mr. Will related to strategy for the Kayne Litigation as more fully described in Note 9 – “Legal Proceedings – Kayne Litigation”, merger and acquisition research, as well as work related to the strategy for a shareholder derivative lawsuit that the Company settled in January 2011. In addition, during the six months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011, Emerson paid expense reimbursements and advances, in the aggregate, of nil and approximately $18,000, respectively, to Mr. Will, related to this consulting work and his service as a director of Emerson.

At September 30, 2012, the Company owed Mr. Will $0 and at September 30, 2011, Mr. Will owed the Company approximately $8,000 in the form of unused travel advances previously paid to him for which the travel had not yet occurred.

Dividend-Related Issues with S&T

On March 2, 2010, the Board declared an extraordinary dividend of $1.10 per common share, which was paid on March 24, 2010. In connection with the Company’s determination as to the taxability of the dividend, the Board relied upon information and research provided to it by the Company’s tax advisors and, in reliance on the “stock-for-debt” exception in the Internal Revenue Code Sections 108(e)(8) and (e)(10), concluded that 4.9% of such dividend paid was taxable to the recipients.

In August 2012, the Company received a Form 886-A from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) which challenges the Company’s conclusions and determines that the Company does not qualify for the above-referenced exception. Accordingly, the IRS has concluded that 100% of the dividend paid was taxable to the recipients. The Company is defending its position and calculations and is contesting the position asserted by the IRS. The Company prepared and, on October 25, 2012, delivered its rebuttal to the IRS contesting the IRS determination.

 

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In the event that the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct, then the shareholders who received the dividend likely will be subject to and liable for an assessment of additional taxes due. Moreover, the Company may be contingently liable for taxes due by its shareholders resulting from the dividend paid by the Company.

Initially, the Company withheld from the dividend funds allocated to the tax liability associated with such dividend. As previously disclosed, on April 7, 2010, upon a request made to the Company by S&T, the Company entered into an agreement with S&T (the “Agreement”), whereby the Company returned to S&T on April 7, 2010 that portion of the funds withheld for taxes from the dividend paid on March 24, 2010 to S&T, which the Company believes is not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. The Agreement includes provisions pursuant to which S&T agreed to indemnify the Company for any liability imposed on it as a result of the Company’s agreement not to withhold such funds for S&T’s possible tax liability and a pledge of stock as collateral. The Company continues to assert that such dividend is not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. In addition, the Company also continues to assert that this transaction results in an off-balance sheet arrangement and a possible contingent tax liability of the Company, which, if recognized, would be offset in part by the calling by the Company on S&T of the indemnification provisions of the Agreement.

Per the terms of the Agreement, Emerson invoiced S&T in June 2010 approximately $42,000 for reimbursement of legal fees incurred by Emerson with regard to the Agreement and approximately $33,000 as a transaction fee for having entered into the Agreement. In January 2011, Emerson agreed, upon the request of S&T, to waive approximately $5,000 of the legal charges that had been invoiced to S&T in June 2010. S&T paid the full amount owed to Emerson of approximately $70,000 in February 2011.

In March 2011, upon the request of S&T to the Company, the Company and S&T agreed that the collateral pledged as a part of the Agreement would no longer be required and such collateral was returned by the Company to S&T in March 2011 and the Agreement was amended and restated to remove the collateral requirement but retain the indemnification provisions. The Agreement, as amended (the “Amended Agreement”), remains in effect as of today. In the event that (i) the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct and (ii) S&T is unable or unwilling to pay the additional taxes due or indemnify Emerson under the terms of the Amended Agreement, the Company may be liable to pay such additional taxes which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operations.

Other

During the three months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011, Emerson invoiced Vigers Appraisal & Consulting Ltd. (“Vigers”), a related party of Grande, approximately $1,000 and $1,000, respectively, for usage of telephone and data lines maintained by Emerson. During the six months ended September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011, Emerson invoiced Vigers approximately $2,000 and $2,000, respectively, for usage of telephone and data lines maintained by Emerson. Vigers owed Emerson approximately $1,000 at both September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011 related to this activity.

NOTE 8 — BORROWINGS

Short-term Borrowings

Letters of Credit — The Company uses Hang Seng Bank to issue letters of credit on behalf of the Company, as needed, on a 100% cash collateralized basis. At September 30, 2012, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $118,000. A like amount of cash, which was posted by the Company as collateral against these outstanding letters of credit, at September 30, 2012, has been classified by the Company as Restricted Cash on the balance sheet.

Long-term Borrowings

At September 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, borrowings under long-term facilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2012     March 31, 2012  
     (Unaudited)        

Capitalized lease obligations

     116        136   

Less current maturities

     (65     (64
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long term debt

   $ 51      $ 72   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NOTE 9 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Kayne Litigation — On July 7, 2011, the Company was served with an amended complaint (the “Complaint”) filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California alleging, among other things, that the Company, certain of its present and former directors and other entities or individuals now or previously associated with Grande, intentionally interfered with the ability of the plaintiffs to collect on a judgment (now approximately $47 million) they had against Grande by engaging in transactions (such as the dividend paid to all shareholders in March 2010) which transferred assets out of the United States. The Complaint also asserts

 

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claims under the civil RICO statute and for alter ego liability. In the Company’s opinion, the claims appear to be devoid of merit. Accordingly, on September 27, 2011, Emerson moved to dismiss the action for failure to state a claim (the “Motion”). On or about February 27, 2012, the Court dismissed the intentional interference claim and portions of the Civil RICO claim with leave to re-plead, but denied the Motion to dismiss the alter ego claim. On March 19, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint setting forth the same claims as the Complaint. On April 20, 2012, the Company moved to dismiss the re-pleaded intentional interference and RICO claims, and oral arguments on this motion were held on June 18, 2012. On September 6, 2012, the Court dismissed the RICO claim, but granted the plaintiffs leave to re-plead. On September 17, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a Third Amended Complaint setting forth the same claims as the Complaint. The Company’s response to the Third Amended Complaint was due and filed on October 4, 2012, which again included a motion to dismiss the alter ego claim. In the interim, the parties have exchanged document discovery requests and responses. Plaintiffs and certain co-defendants have produced documents. This action has been scheduled for an April 23, 2013 trial date. Emerson is defending the action vigorously.

Except for the litigation matter described above, the Company is not currently a party to any legal proceedings other than litigation matters, in most cases involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to our business. Management cannot estimate with certainty the Company’s ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to such pending litigation matters. However, management believes, based on our examination of such matters, that the Company’s ultimate liability will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE 10 — MARKETABLE SECURITIES

As of June 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012, the Company had no marketable securities.

During Fiscal 2012, the Company sold for cash proceeds in May 2011 its last remaining student loan auction rate security for $4.7 million and realized a gain of $0.8 million as a result.

NOTE 11 — TRADEMARKS

During the three months ended September 30, 2012, upon completion of an analysis which showed the absence of future expected cash flows, the Company determined that the value of one of its non-strategic trademarks was fully impaired. Thus, the Company recorded in September 2012 an impairment charge of $1.3 million to write off this trademark. The Company does not anticipate any future material adverse financial impacts arising from this impairment.

NOTE 12 — SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS

During the three months ended September 30, 2012, the Company invested $25.0 million in certificates of deposit with durations in excess of three months. $5.0 million of the certificates mature on December 31, 2012 and $20.0 million of the certificates mature on February 19, 2013.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

The following discussion of the Company’s operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

In the following discussions, most percentages and dollar amounts have been rounded to aid presentation. Accordingly, all amounts are approximations.

Forward-Looking Information

This report contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond the Company’s control, and which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. The reader can identify these forward-looking statements through the Company’s use of words such as “may,” “will,” “can,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “seek,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “potential,” and other similar words and expressions of the future. These forward-looking statements may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

 

   

the impact, if any, on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operation arising from the appointment of the Provisional Liquidators over Grande;

 

   

the decline in, and any further deterioration of, consumer spending for retail products, such as the Company’s products;

 

   

the Company’s inability to resist price increases from its suppliers or pass through such increases to its customers;

 

   

the loss of any of the Company’s key customers or reduction in the purchase of the Company’s products by any such customers;

 

   

conflicts of interest that exist based on the Company’s relationship with Grande;

 

   

the Company’s inability to improve and maintain effective internal controls or the failure by its personnel to comply with such internal controls;

 

   

the Company’s inability to maintain its relationships with its licensees and distributors, renew existing licenses, or the failure to obtain new licensees or distribution relationships on favorable terms;

 

   

cash generated by operating activities represents the Company’s principal source of funding and therefore the Company depends on its ability to successfully manage its operating cash flows to fund its operations;

 

   

the Company’s inability to anticipate market trends, enhance existing products or achieve market acceptance of new products;

 

   

the Company’s dependence on a limited number of suppliers for its components and raw materials;

 

   

the Company’s dependence on third party manufacturers to manufacture and deliver its products;

 

   

changes in consumer spending and economic conditions;

 

   

the failure of third party sales representatives to adequately promote, market and sell the Company’s products;

 

   

the Company’s inability to protect its intellectual property;

 

   

the effects of competition;

 

   

changes in foreign laws and regulations and changes in the political and economic conditions in the foreign countries in which the Company operates;

 

   

changes in accounting policies, rules and practices;

 

   

the effects of the continuing appreciation of the renminbi and increases in costs of production in China; and

 

   

the other factors listed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K, as amended, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report or the date of the document incorporated by reference into this report. The Company has no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Management has expressed its expectations, beliefs and projections in good faith and it believes it has a reasonable basis for them. However, management cannot assure the reader that its expectations, beliefs or projections will be achieved or accomplished.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table summarizes certain financial information for the three and six month periods ended September 30, 2012 (fiscal 2013) and September 30, 2011 (fiscal 2012) (in thousands):

 

     Three months ended
September 30
    Six months ended
September 30
 
     2012      2011     2012      2011  

Net product sales

   $ 32,299       $ 40,214      $ 77,175       $ 90,316   

Licensing revenue

     2,416         1,166        3,551         2,588   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     34,715         41,380        80,726         92,904   

Cost of sales

     29,102         37,005        68,275         82,600   

Other operating costs and expenses

     385         302        793         689   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     1,737         2,380        3,745         4,069   

Impairment of trademark

     1,326         —          1,326         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     2,165         1,693        6,587         5,546   

Interest income (expense), net

     67         (1     98         30   

Realized gain on sale of marketable security

     —           —          —           828   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     2,232         1,692        6,685         6,404   

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     285         (71     898         1,304   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 1,947       $ 1,763      $ 5,787       $ 5,100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net product sales — Net product sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 were $32.3 million as compared to $40.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2012, a decrease of $7.9 million or 19.7%. For the six month period of fiscal 2013, net product sales were $77.2 million as compared to $90.3 million for the six month period of fiscal 2012, a decrease of $13.1 million or 14.6%. The Company’s sales during the six month periods of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 were highly concentrated among the Company’s two largest customers, as to which gross product sales comprised approximately 94.9% and 91.1%, respectively, of the Company’s total gross product sales. Net product sales may be periodically impacted by adjustments made to the Company’s sales allowance and marketing support accrual to record unanticipated customer deductions from accounts receivable or to reduce the accrual by any amounts which were accrued in the past but not taken by customers through deductions from accounts receivable within a certain time period. In the aggregate, these adjustments had the effect of increasing net product sales and operating income by approximately $0.3 million and $0.3 million for the second quarters of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012, respectively, and approximately $0.5 million and $0.5 million for the six month periods of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012, respectively. The Company confronts increasing pricing pressure which is a trend that management expects to continue.

Net product sales are comprised primarily of the sales of houseware and audio products which bear the Emerson® brand name. The major elements which contributed to the overall decrease in net product sales were as follows:

 

  i) Houseware product net sales decreased $5.9 million, or 15.9%, to $31.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to $37.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, principally driven by a decrease in sales of compact refrigerators, microwave ovens, wine coolers, toaster ovens and coffee makers. For the six month period of fiscal 2013, houseware products net sales were $75.1 million, a decrease of $9.5 million or 11.2%, from $84.6 million for the six month period of fiscal 2012, principally driven by a decrease in sales of compact refrigerators, microwave ovens, wine coolers, toaster ovens and coffee makers; and

 

  ii) Audio product net sales were $1.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to $2.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, a decrease of $1.9 million, or 67.5%, resulting from decreased sales of the Company’s portable audio and clock radio product offerings. For the six month period of fiscal 2013, audio product net sales were $2.1 million, a decrease of $3.6 million, or 64.1%, from $5.7 million in the six month period of fiscal 2012, resulting from decreased net sales of the Company’s portable audio and clock radio product offerings.

As reported by the Company in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 19, 2012, the Company has been informed by its customer Wal-Mart, which accounted for approximately 48% of the Company’s net revenues during the year ended March 31, 2012 (“Fiscal 2012”), that, commencing with the Spring of 2013, it will discontinue purchasing from Emerson two microwave oven products currently sold by the Company to Wal-Mart. During Fiscal 2012, these two microwave oven products comprised, in the aggregate, approximately $48.4 million, or 31%, of the Company’s net product sales. Currently, it is anticipated that Emerson will continue shipping these products throughout the remainder of Fiscal 2013 (the year ending March 31, 2013), with sales of such products declining in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2013. Emerson anticipates that the full impact of Wal-Mart’s decision will be realized by the Company in Fiscal 2014, which begins on April 1, 2013. As repeatedly disclosed by the Company, the complete loss of, or significant reduction in, business with either of the Company’s key customers will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations. Accordingly, Wal-Mart’s decision will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations. The Company intends to immediately commence a process to consider various strategic alternatives, including a complete analysis of its current and prospective product lines. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to increase sales of such products at levels sufficient to offset the adverse impact of Wal-Mart’s decision, if at all.

 

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Licensing revenue — Licensing revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $2.4 million compared to $1.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, an increase of $1.2 million or 107.2%. Licensing revenue for the six month period of fiscal 2013 was $3.6 million as compared to $2.6 million for the six month period of fiscal 2012, an increase of $1.0 million or 37.2%. The increase in year-over-year licensing revenue for both the second quarter and six month periods of fiscal 2013 was due to approximately $1.3 million of higher year-over-year licensing revenue earned from the Company’s largest licensee, Funai Corporation, Inc. (“Funai”), because Funai met its annual minimum royalty payment obligation during the second quarter of the Company’s fiscal year 2013, as compared to the prior year, when Funai met its annual minimum royalty payment obligation during the third quarter of the Company’s fiscal year 2012, partly offset by lower aggregate year-over-year licensing revenues earned by the Company from its other active licensees due to a lower year-over-year number of licensees.

The Company’s largest license agreement is with Funai, which accounted for approximately 92% and 89% of the Company’s total licensing revenue for the second quarter and six month period of fiscal 2013, respectively, and which expires December 31, 2012 unless renewed. The agreement provides that Funai will manufacture, market, sell and distribute specified products bearing the Emerson® trademark to customers in the U.S. and Canadian markets. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company receives non-refundable minimum annual royalty payments of $3.75 million each calendar year and a license fee on sales of product subject to the agreement in excess of the minimum annual royalties. The Company and Funai continue to negotiate a renewal of such license; however there is no assurance that a renewal will be consummated on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all.

Net revenues — As a result of the foregoing factors, the Company’s net revenues were $34.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to $41.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, a decrease of $6.7 million, or 16.1%, and $80.7 million in the six month period of fiscal 2013 as compared to $92.9 million in the six month period of fiscal 2012, a decrease of $12.2 million, or 13.1%.

Cost of Sales — In absolute terms, cost of sales decreased $7.9 million, or 21.4%, to $29.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to $37.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net revenues was 83.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to 89.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net product sales was 90.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to 92.0% in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. The decrease in absolute terms for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was primarily related to the reduced net product sales and lower year-over-year cost of sales as a percentage of sales. The improved margins for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 are not anticipated to continue for the remainder of fiscal 2013 and are not indicative of results expected to be achieved in subsequent quarters.

In absolute terms, cost of sales decreased $14.3 million, or 17.3%, to $68.3 million in the six month period of fiscal 2013 as compared to $82.6 million in the six month period of fiscal 2012. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net revenues was 84.6% in the six month period of fiscal 2013 as compared to 88.9% in the six month period of fiscal 2012. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net product sales was 88.5% in the six month period of fiscal 2013 as compared to 91.5% in the six month period of fiscal 2012. The decrease in absolute terms for the six month period of fiscal 2013 as compared to the six month period of fiscal 2012 was primarily related to the reduced net product sales and lower year-over-year cost of sales as a percentage of sales, partially offset by the impact of an inventory valuation reserve reduction that occurred in the six month period of fiscal 2012 that did not repeat in the six month period of fiscal 2013. The improved margins for the six month period ended September 30, 2012 are not anticipated to continue for the remainder of fiscal 2013 and are not indicative of results expected to be achieved in subsequent quarters.

The Company purchases the products it sells from a limited number of factory suppliers. For the second quarter of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012, 84% and 66%, respectively, of such purchases were from the Company’s largest two suppliers. For the six month period of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012, 76% and 79%, respectively, of such purchases were from the Company’s largest two suppliers.

Other Operating Costs and Expenses — As a percentage of net revenues, other operating costs and expenses were 1.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 and 0.7% in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. In absolute terms, other operating costs and expenses increased $0.1 million, or 27.5%, to $0.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to $0.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 as a result of higher warranty and returns processing costs. For the six month period of fiscal 2013, other operating costs were 1.0% of net revenues as compared to 0.7% of net revenues for the six month period of fiscal 2012. In absolute terms, other operating costs and expenses increased $0.1 million, or 15.1%, to $0.8 million for the six month period of fiscal 2013 as compared to $0.7 million for the six month period of fiscal 2012 also resulting from higher warranty and returns processing costs.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (“S,G&A”) — S,G&A, as a percentage of net revenues, was 5.0% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to 5.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. S,G&A, in absolute terms, decreased $0.7 million, or 27.0%, to $1.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to $2.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2012. The decrease in S,G&A in absolute terms between the second quarter of fiscal 2013 and second quarter of fiscal 2012 was primarily due to lower compensation and consulting costs, and lower legal fees. For the six month period of fiscal 2013, S,G&A was 4.6% of net revenues as compared to 4.4% for the six month period of fiscal 2012. In absolute terms, S,G&A decreased $0.4 million, or 8.0%, to $3.7 million for the six month period of fiscal 2013 as compared to $4.1 million in the six month period of fiscal 2012. The decrease in S,G&A in absolute terms between the six month periods of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 was primarily due to lower compensation and consulting costs.

Impairment of trademark — During the three months ended September 30, 2012, upon completion of an analysis which showed the absence of future expected cash flows, the Company determined that the value of one of its non-strategic trademarks was fully impaired. Thus, the Company recorded in September 2012 an impairment charge of $1.3 million to write off this trademark. The Company does not anticipate any future material adverse financial impacts arising from this impairment.

Interest income (expense), net — Interest income, net, was $67,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to interest expense of $1,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, an increase of $68,000. Interest income, net, was $98,000 in the six month period of fiscal 2013 as compared to $30,000 in the six month period of fiscal 2012, an increase of $68,000.

Realized Gain on Sale of Marketable Security — Realized gain on sale of marketable security was nil in both the second quarter and six month period of fiscal 2013 and nil in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 and $828,000 in the six month period of fiscal 2012. The realized gain resulted from the sale in May 2011 of the Company’s last remaining auction rate security (see Note 10 – “Marketable Securities”).

Provision (benefit) for Income Taxes — In the second quarter and six month period of fiscal 2013, the Company recorded income tax expense of $0.3 million and $0.9 million, respectively, as compared to a benefit of $71,000 and income tax expense of $1.3 million, respectively, in the second quarter and six month period of fiscal 2012.

Net income — As a result of the foregoing factors, the Company realized net income of $1.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to $1.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, an increase of $0.1 million, or 10.4%. For the six month period of fiscal 2013, the Company realized net income of $5.8 million as compared to $5.1 million in the six month period of fiscal 2012, an increase of $0.7 million, or 13.5%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

General

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $27.5 million, as compared to approximately $31.9 million at September 30, 2011. Working capital increased to $71.6 million at September 30, 2012 as compared to $55.9 million at September 30, 2011. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents of approximately $4.4 million was primarily due to an increase in short term investments, an increase in prepaid expenses and a decrease in accounts payable during the twelve months ended September 30, 2012, partly offset by the net income generated by the Company, a decrease in inventory and the sale of the Company’s former headquarters building in December 2011.

Cash flow provided by operating activities was $7.4 million for the six months ended September 30, 2012, resulting primarily from increases in accounts payable and the net income generated during the period, partially offset by increases in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and inventory.

Net cash used by investing activities was $24.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2012, primarily due to a short term investment in certificates of deposit, partially offset by a reduction in restricted cash.

 

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Net cash used by financing activities was $20,000 for the six months ended September 30, 2012, resulting from payments made on the Company’s capital lease and rental obligations.

Other Events and Circumstances Pertaining to Liquidity

Provisional Liquidation of the Company’s controlling shareholder

On May 31, 2011, upon application of a major creditor, the High Court of Hong Kong appointed Provisional Liquidators over Grande, which is the Company’s controlling stockholder. Following the appointment of the Provisional Liquidators over Grande, certain major factory suppliers, including Midea, which is the Company’s largest factory supplier, have significantly reduced the maximum amount of open credit lines available to the Company. The Company relies on its cash on hand and cash generated by ongoing operations to manage its business.

Taxability of March 2010 Dividend

As previously disclosed, on March 2, 2010, the Board declared an extraordinary dividend of $1.10 per common share, which was paid on March 24, 2010. In connection with the Company’s determination as to the taxability of the dividend, the Board relied upon information and research provided to it by the Company’s tax advisors and, in reliance on the “stock-for-debt” exception in the Internal Revenue Code Sections 108(e)(8) and (e)(10), concluded that 4.9% of such dividend paid was taxable to the recipients.

In August 2012, the Company received a Form 886-A from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) which challenges the Company’s conclusions and determines that the Company does not qualify for the above-referenced exception. Accordingly, the IRS has concluded that 100% of the dividend paid was taxable to the recipients. The Company is defending its position and calculations and is contesting the position asserted by the IRS. The Company prepared and, on October 25, 2012, delivered its rebuttal to the IRS contesting the IRS determination.

In the event that the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct, then the shareholders who received the dividend likely will be subject to and liable for an assessment of additional taxes due. Moreover, the Company may be contingently liable for taxes due by its shareholders resulting from the dividend paid by the Company.

Initially, the Company withheld from the dividend funds allocated to the tax liability associated with such dividend. As previously disclosed, on April 7, 2010, upon a request made to the Company by its foreign controlling shareholder, S&T, the Company entered into an agreement with S&T (the “Agreement”), whereby the Company returned to S&T on April 7, 2010 that portion of the funds withheld for taxes from the dividend paid on March 24, 2010 to S&T, which the Company believes is not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. The Agreement includes provisions pursuant to which S&T agreed to indemnify the Company for any liability imposed on it as a result of the Company’s agreement not to withhold such funds for S&T’s possible tax liability and a pledge of stock as collateral. The Company continues to assert that such dividend is not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. In addition, the Company also continues to assert that this transaction results in an off-balance sheet arrangement and a possible contingent tax liability of the Company, which, if recognized, would be offset in part by the calling by the Company on S&T of the indemnification provisions of the Agreement.

In March 2011, upon the request of S&T to the Company, the Company and S&T agreed that the collateral pledged as a part of the Agreement would no longer be required and such collateral was returned by the Company to S&T in March 2011 and the Agreement was amended and restated to remove the collateral requirement but retain the indemnification provisions. The Agreement, as amended (the “Amended Agreement”), remains in effect as of today. In the event that (i) the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct and (ii) S&T is unable or unwilling to pay the additional taxes due or indemnify Emerson under the terms of the Amended Agreement, the Company may be liable to pay such additional taxes which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operations.

 

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Credit Arrangements

Letters of Credit — The Company utilizes Hang Seng Bank to issue letters of credit on behalf of the Company, as needed, on a 100% cash collateralized basis. At September 30, 2012, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $118,000. A like amount of cash, which was posted by the Company as collateral against these outstanding letters of credit, at September 30, 2012, has been classified by the Company as Restricted Cash on the balance sheet.

Short-term Liquidity

During the three and six months ended September 30, 2012, products representing approximately 48% and 54% of net sales, respectively, were imported directly to the Company’s customers. The direct importation of product by the Company to its customers significantly benefits the Company’s liquidity because this inventory does not need to be financed by the Company.

The Company’s principal existing sources of cash are generated from operations. The Company believes that its existing cash balance and sources of cash will be sufficient to support existing operations over the next 12 months.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The following Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) were issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board during the three months ended September 30, 2012 or during the interim period between September 30, 2012 and November 19, 2012 which relate to or could relate to the Company as concerns the Company’s normal ongoing operations or the industry in which the Company operates:

Accounting Standards Update 2012-03, Technical Amendments and Corrections to SEC Sections: Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 114, Technical Amendments Pursuant to SEC Release No. 33-9250, and Corrections Related to FASB Accounting Standards Update 2010-22 (SEC Update) (Issued August 2012)

Amends various SEC paragraphs: (a) pursuant to the issuance of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 114; (b) pursuant to the issuance of the SEC’s Final Rule, “Technical Amendments to Commission Rules and Forms Related to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification,” Release Nos. 33-9250, 34-65052, and IC-29748 August 8, 2011; and (c) related to ASU 2010-22, Accounting for Various Topics.

Accounting Standards Update 2012-04, Technical Corrections and Improvements (Issued October 2012)

Clarifies the Codification or corrects unintended application of guidance and includes amendments identifying when the use of fair value should be linked to the definition of fair value in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. Amendments to the Codification without transition guidance are effective upon issuance for both public and nonpublic entities. For public entities, amendments subject to transition guidance will be effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2012. For nonpublic entities, amendments subject to transition guidance will be effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2013.

Inflation, Foreign Currency, and Interest Rates

The Company’s exposure to currency fluctuations has been minimized by the use of U.S. dollar denominated purchase orders. The Company purchases virtually all of its products from manufacturers located in China.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

(a) Disclosure controls and procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d — 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its Exchange Act reports are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Due to the inherent limitations of control systems, not all misstatements may be detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons; by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. Our controls and procedures can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the above objectives have been met.

 

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The Company’s management concluded that disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of September 30, 2012, are effective to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

Kayne Litigation — On July 7, 2011, the Company was served with an amended complaint (the “Complaint”) filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California alleging, among other things, that the Company, certain of its present and former directors and other entities or individuals now or previously associated with Grande, intentionally interfered with the ability of the plaintiffs to collect on a judgment (now approximately $47 million) they had against Grande by engaging in transactions (such as the dividend paid to all shareholders in March 2010) which transferred assets out of the United States. The Complaint also asserts claims under the civil RICO statute and for alter ego liability. In the Company’s opinion, the claims appear to be devoid of merit. Accordingly, on September 27, 2011, Emerson moved to dismiss the action for failure to state a claim (the “Motion”). On or about February 27, 2012, the Court dismissed the intentional interference claim and portions of the Civil RICO claim with leave to re-plead, but denied the Motion to dismiss the alter ego claim. On March 19, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint setting forth the same claims as the Complaint. On April 20, 2012, the Company moved to dismiss the re-pleaded intentional interference and RICO claims, and oral arguments on this motion were held on June 18, 2012. On September 6, 2012, the Court dismissed the RICO claim, but granted the plaintiffs leave to re-plead. On September 17, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a Third Amended Complaint setting forth the same claims as the Complaint. The Company’s response to the Third Amended Complaint was due and filed on October 4, 2012. In the interim, the parties have exchanged document discovery requests and responses. Plaintiffs and certain co-defendants have produced documents. This action has been scheduled for an April 23, 2013 trial date. Emerson is defending the action vigorously.

Except for the litigation matter described above, the Company is not currently a party to any legal proceedings other than litigation matters, in most cases involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to our business. Management cannot estimate with certainty the Company’s ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to such pending litigation matters. However, management believes, based on our examination of such matters, that the Company’s ultimate liability will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There were no material changes in any risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 13, 2012.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

None

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

(a) None

(b) None

Item 4. Removed and Reserved.

Item 5. Other Information.

None

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

  31.1    Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
  31.2    Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
  32    Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
101.1+    XBRL Instance Document. ***
101.2+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. ***
101.3+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. ***
101.4+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. ***
101.5+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. ***
101.6+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. ***

 

* filed herewith
** furnished herewith
*** The XBRL information is being furnished and not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not incorporated by reference into any registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

EMERSON RADIO CORP.

(Registrant)

 

/s/ Duncan Hon

Date: November 19, 2012   Duncan Hon
 

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

/s/ Andrew L. Davis

Date: November 19, 2012   Andrew L. Davis
 

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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